Written Answers Friday 13 November 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24467 by Richard Lochhead on 12 June 2009, whether it will set out the arrangements for the new EU agricultural rural payment appeals procedure.

Richard Lochhead: The time required to carry out the very detailed and careful negotiations between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Land Court in developing this new process has resulted in a slightly later implementation date. That date had been originally planned for 1 October 2009.

  The new EU agricultural rural payments appeals procedure will however now come into effect on 20 November provided for by an SSI, the Rural Payments (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

  From this date, producers and land managers who are notified of a decision to refuse, reduce or recover payments and wish to have the decision reviewed, should firstly contact their local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) area office to discuss their case. A producer or land manager will have 30 days from the date of the decision to contact the local office which, within 60 days, will arrange and hold the meeting. RPID will then have 60 days from the date of the meeting to prepare and issue a report to the producer or land manager confirming, amending or revoking the original decision and, if the decision stands, setting out what issues were agreed and what remains in dispute.

  On receipt of this report, and if the original decision to refuse, reduce or recover payment still stands, producers will have a further 30 days to decide if they then wish to submit a formal appeal to the Scottish Land Court.

  Any appeals submitted to the court will be dealt with by the land court’s procedure under the terms set out in the SSI. Essentially the court’s role will be to rule on the facts and law of the case. RPID and the producer or land manager will now be on an equal footing as parties to the appeal.

  Our aim in providing this new procedure is that it will address the main concerns expressed by the industry about the existing system, namely that it was not sufficiently independent and that the time taken to resolve many cases was too lengthy.

Communities

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is contributing to the £19 million two-year North Lanarkshire’s Working funding package.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government are contributing £6,147,695 towards North Lanarkshire’s Working two-year funding package. This contribution is being provided through the Fairer Scotland Funding (FSF).

  John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the North Lanarkshire’s Working partners are making a financial contribution to the initiative and how much each is contributing.

Fiona Hyslop: A financial contribution towards North Lanarkshire’s Working funding package has been provided by the following partners:

  North Lanarkshire’s Working - CPP

  

Funders
Year 1
Year 2
Total


Fairer Scotland Funding
3,073,848
3,073,847
6,147,695


North Lanarkshire Council - Regeneration Services
108,964
108,964
217,928


North Lanarkshire Council - Learning and Leisure
1,342,403
1,342,403
2,684,805


North Lanarkshire Council - Capital and Leverage Fund
438,281
438,281
876,562


North Lanarkshire Colleges
440,979
440,979
881,958


Clyde Valley Housing Association
500,000
500,000
1,000,000


North Lanarkshire Volunteer Centre
125,095
125,095
250,189


Lanarkshire Health Board
25,000
25,000
50,000


European Social Fund
2,147,798
2,147,798
4,295,595


European Regional Development Fund
1,315,502
1,315,502
2,631,003


 
9,517,868
9,517,867
19,035,735



  

Partner Match for Colleges
Two Years Match


Coatbridge College
63,517


Cumbernauld College
200,958


Motherwell College
9,921


 
274,396

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the finding in the 2008/09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: First Findings  that 69% of adults perceived the crime rate in their local area to have stayed the same or reduced in the last two years, how many perceived it to have (a) stayed the same and (b) reduced.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested is given in Figure 6.2 on page 111 of 2008/09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: First Findings, published by the Scottish Government on 27 October 2009.

  This publication can be accessed via the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/26114015/0.

Fuel

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many petroleum licences have been issued in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many petroleum licences for retail sites have been issued in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not held centrally. The issue of petroleum licences is the responsibility of local authorities.

  Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations that received funding under the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme are still in operation, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not held centrally. The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost to establish extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provision at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, broken down by (a) cost of equipment and (b) associated staff costs.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Grampian has advised that the cost of the equipment and associated consumables required to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at Aberdeen totalled approximately £50,000.

  The staff who have been trained to provide ECMO are otherwise employed on a daily basis as general intensive care unit staff. However, NHS Grampian has advised that the cost of training these members of staff to provide ECMO, including travel, accommodation and course fees, totalled approximately £14,800.

  Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric intensive care beds there have been in each month since May 2007 and how many were (a) occupied and (b) vacant during each month.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of paediatric intensive care (PICU) is operated as a single national service from the two paediatric intensive care units in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

  There were 20 PICU beds in Scotland between May 2007 and November 2007, this capacity increased to 21 beds in November 2007. In April 2007, the PICU capacity increased to 23 beds and increased to 24 beds in December 2008.

  Occupancy for the two units over the period is detailed in the following table:

  

Month
PICU Occupancy1
Total PICU beds


Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow


May 2007
81.67%
85.94%
20


June 2007
90.00%
64.82%
20


July 2007
58.33%
79.18%
20


August 2007
93.33%
82.94%
20


September 2007
51.67%
71.52%
20


October 2007
103.33%
104%
20


November 2007
77.14%
102.14%
21


December 2007
78.57%
112.86%
21


January 2008
85.71%
118.57%
21


February 2008
71.43%
102.43%
21


March 2008
71.43%
94.86%
21


April 2008
72.86%
95.00%
23


May 2008
67.14%
79%
23


June 2008
55.71%
92.50%
23


July 2008
75.71%
95%
23


August 2008
60.00%
80.63%
23


September 2008
47.14%
91.25%
23


October 2008
90.00%
96.88%
23


November 2008
105.71%
93.75%
23


December 2008
86.25%
96.88%
24


January 2009
86.25%
80.63%
24


February 2009
71.25%
89.63%
24


March 2009
77.50%
82.69%
24


April 2009
69.13%
73.13%
24


May 2009
75.00%
72.50%
24


June 2009
62.50%
90.63%
24


July 2009
63.75%
81.25%
24


August 2009
75.00%
71.88%
24


September 2009
81.25%
76%
24


October 2009
85.00%
91.88%
24

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Penrose Inquiry into hepatitis C and HIV infection from NHS treatment with blood and blood products will be concluded.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Penrose Inquiry opening statement was made by Lord Penrose in March 2009. The terms of reference show that Lord Penrose will report as soon as practicable. The conclusion of the Inquiry is in his hands, as Chair of the Public Inquiry.

  The Scottish Government is co-operating fully with the public inquiry. The Penrose Inquiry published a call for evidence in June 2009 and is currently gathering evidence. We will provide a range of documents to the Inquiry dating from the early 1970s to the present.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28916 on 13 November 2009, announcing the addition of three further deaths to be investigated by the Penrose Inquiry. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has considered the inclusion of additional deaths to be investigated by the Penrose Inquiry.

Nicola Sturgeon: I have invited Lord Penrose to consider three additional deaths through the Penrose Inquiry.

  I announced the terms of reference of the Penrose Inquiry in January 2009 to investigate the circumstances in which hepatitis C/HIV infection were acquired from NHS treatment with blood and blood products prior to the introduction of a test for hepatitis C in 1991. The terms of reference provided for two deaths, those of the Reverend David Black and Mrs Eileen O’Hara, to be investigated by the inquiry.

  Three further deaths will now be considered by the Penrose Inquiry, those of Alexander Black Laing, Neil Mullen and Victor Tamburrini.

  The revised terms of reference of the Inquiry will be:

  Term of Reference 1:

  To investigate the systems in place in Scotland for the collection, treatment, licensing, testing, preparation for supply and supply for use by the NHS of blood and blood products with particular reference to the risks of transmission of the hepatitis C virus and HIV to patients treated by the NHS in Scotland, including the role of government in regulation and setting guidelines and standards.

  Term of Reference 2:

  To investigate the systems in place for informing patients treated by the NHS in Scotland of the risks associated with the use in their treatment of blood or blood products, with particular reference to the risks of infection with the hepatitis C virus and HIV.

  Term of Reference 3:

  To investigate the systems in place in Scotland for obtaining consent from, and testing for infection with hepatitis C and HIV, patients treated with blood or blood products, and informing any patients found to be so infected.

  Term of Reference 4:

  To investigate the systems for recording and monitoring the numbers of NHS patients in Scotland treated with blood and blood products, with particular reference to the numbers exposed to risk of infection with the hepatitis C virus and HIV and the numbers contracting either or both such infections as a consequence of such treatment.

  Term of Reference 5:

  To examine the circumstances generally in which patients treated by the NHS in Scotland became infected with hepatitis C, HIV, or both through the use of blood or blood products in the course of their treatment, taking account of the development of scientific and clinical understanding and evidence internationally.

  Term of Reference 6 (as revised):

  To investigate the deaths of Reverend David Black, Mrs Eileen O’Hara, Alexander Black Laing, Neil Mullen and Victor Tamburrini, with particular reference to the circumstances in which they became infected with the hepatitis C virus, HIV or both.

  Term of Reference 7:

  To investigate the steps taken by those involved in, and those responsible for, the NHS in Scotland, including NHS boards and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), their officers and employees and associated agencies, once hepatitis C and HIV were identified, to trace individuals who might have become infected with one or both of them as a result of receiving blood or blood products, and to identify any other or further steps that might reasonably have been taken to trace such individuals.

  Term of Reference 8:

  To investigate the steps taken by those involved in, and those responsible for, the NHS in Scotland including NHS boards and SNBTS, their officers and employees and associated agencies, to prevent the provision of infected blood and blood products.

  Term of Reference 9:

  To investigate the steps taken by those involved in, and those responsible for, the NHS in Scotland including NHS boards and the SNBTS, their officers, employees and associated agencies to inform individuals who might have received infected blood or blood products of the risks associated with their treatment for themselves and their families, and to offer treatment to any individual at risk, and to identify any other or further steps that might reasonably have been taken to inform and to treat such individuals.

  Term of Reference 10:

  To examine any particular adverse consequences for patients treated by the NHS in Scotland and their families of infection through blood and blood products with hepatitis C and HIV, including the treatment offered.

  Term of Reference 11:

  To identify any lessons and implications for the future, and make recommendations.

  Term of Reference 12:

  To report as soon as practicable.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish examples of best practice by local authorities in respect of the allocation of housing on the basis of priority needs and local needs.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish new guidance for local authorities on the allocation of housing on the basis of priority needs and local needs.

Alex Neil: Yes. Following recommendations from its Allocations Policy Review Advisory Group, the Scottish Government has committed to providing social landlords with a new practical guide to social housing allocations. This will address the areas considered by the group, set out the scope of local decision making and provide a range of practical examples landlords may wish to consider.

  The advisory group’s outcomes and conclusions paper and the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations are available on the Scottish Government’s website www.scotland.gov.uk. A copy of these documents has also been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49552 and 49553).

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that GPs and practice nurses are supported in identifying and managing depression in older people, including psychological and pharmacological approaches.

Nicola Sturgeon: Improvements to the detection and treatment of depression, and consequent care, have been aided by the recently enhanced GP contract. This contract provides additional resources for practices to make objective assessments to address the severity of depression and provide appropriate information on interventions, such as self help and life style advice.

  We are working with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to improve availability of psychological therapies for all patient groups, including older people.

  Activity on clinical identification, diagnosis and treatment across age ranges includes ensuring care pathway standards, increasing access to psychological therapies and reducing reliance on antidepressants.

  Furthermore, the Scottish Government has funded NHS Health Scotland to work with partners – namely Age Concern Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation – to address mental health in later life. The work involved focuses on mental health promotion and prevention of common mental health problems in older people, this including depression.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that people with dementia have access to psychological intervention where appropriate.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that psychological therapies can make to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. That is why we have a specific commitment to deliver on our commitment of increasing the availability of evidence-based psychological therapies for all ages to meet patients’ needs.

  To achieve this we are working with NHS Scotland, NHS boards and their partners to improve and increase service capacity and have produced a tool which NHS boards can use to review the best available evidence-based psychological therapy when considering which psychological intervention is most appropriate. This includes dementia.

  In addition, we have funded NES to support the training and development of staff in a range of evidence-based psychological therapy approaches.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the number of posts for psychologists with specialist skills to support older people with depression, anxiety or dementia and help reduce the impact of such patients on other NHS services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that psychological therapies can make to improve the quality of life for older people with mental illness. That is why we have a specific commitment to increasing the availability of evidence-based psychological therapies for all age groups. Part of this commitment’s remit focuses on the delivery of psychological services to older people; including the delivery of care to those who are housebound, and those in care homes.

  We are aware of the low numbers of psychologists, but have been actively working with NES to align Doctoral level training posts with Older Peoples services, to develop additional modules in the delivery of therapy to Older People for the shorter MSc courses for psychologists, and to develop training for a range of other clinicians to deliver psychologically-based interventions with this population.

  Work is also underway to re-structure the role of the psychologists to ensure that more time is spent supporting others in the delivery of psychological care, thus increasing service capacity.

  Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies exist for psychologists in each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on how many vacancies exist for psychologists in each NHS board is not currently collected centrally. The NHS Education for Scotland and Information Services Division Psychology Workforce Planning project does plan to initiate recording and reporting of psychology vacancy data but no specific date for commencement has yet been set.

  Information on staff in post trends, Agenda for Change bandings, area of work and target age of patients seen for psychologists can be found in the National Services Scotland, Information Services Division website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/1.html.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have requested derogation from the European working time directive; for how many posts, and for how long.

Nicola Sturgeon: Five NHS boards applied for derogation for a total of 14 rotas for two years. They were:

  NHS Ayrshire and Arran,

  NHS Borders,

  NHS Fife,

  NHS Lanarkshire and

  NHS Tayside.

  A total of seven rotas were approved by me and were included in the amendment regulations which were laid before the UK Parliament on 15 October and came into force from 2 November 2009. The derogation applies until 31 July 2011.

  The approved rotas and the relevant NHS boards are:

  Emergency Medicine, Ayr Hospital - NHS Ayrshire and Arran,

  Paediatrics, Borders General hospital - NHS Borders,

  Paediatrics, Forth Park Maternity and Victoria Hospitals - NHS Fife,

  Emergency Medicine, Monklands Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire,

  Emergency Medicine, Haimyres Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire,

  Emergency Medicine, Wishaw Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire and

  Neonatology, Wishaw Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many derogations have been granted to NHS boards; for what posts, and for how long.

Nicola Sturgeon: A total of seven rotas were approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and were included in the amendment regulations which were laid before the UK Parliament on 15 October and came into force from 2 November 2009. The derogation applies until 31 July 2011.

  The approved rotas and the relevant NHS boards are:

  Emergency Medicine, Ayr Hospital - NHS Ayrshire and Arran,

  Paediatrics, Borders General hospital - NHS Borders,

  Paediatrics, Forth Park Maternity and Victoria Hospitals - NHS Fife,

  Emergency Medicine, Monklands Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire,

  Emergency Medicine, Haimyres Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire,

  Emergency Medicine, Wishaw Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire and

  Neonatology, Wishaw Hospital - NHS Lanarkshire.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that full-time junior medical staff who already work 48 hours per week are not additionally employed as NHS locums.

Nicola Sturgeon: If vacancies exist in junior doctor rotas, NHS boards can employ locums to cover short-term gaps. It is individual boards’ responsibility as employers to ensure that any staff engaged in locum, bank or overtime work, whether junior doctors or other medical staff, do so within the legal limits of the working time regulations (WTR).

  These regulations allow individual employees to opt out of the 48 hour limit, providing they sign an agreement voluntarily with their employer to do so. NHS boards are required to keep records of all staff who have signed the opt out. More generally, clinical managers must be satisfied that junior doctors who wish to cover extra shifts are fit to carry out this work.

National Health Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS complaints have been referred to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) outcome of referral.

Nicola Sturgeon: The data held by the Office of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman goes back to 2003. Since then, I am advised that 1,423 cases have been referred to the Ombudsman, broken down in the following table:

  

NHS Board
Closure Year
Report issued:
complaint fully/partly upheld
Report issued:
complaint not upheld
Premature
Out of Jurisdiction/ Discontinued/ Not pursued
Total


Unknown
Total
23
16
30
112
69


Ayrshire and Arran
2004
2
0
0
3
5


2005
2
0
4
2
8


2006
2
1
5
5
13


2007
8
1
0
6
15


2008
2
2
2
10
16


2009
2
1
2
10
15


Total
18
5
13
36
72


Borders
2004
0
0
0
3
3


2005
0
0
0
1
1


2006
3
0
3
1
7


2007
1
0
2
2
5


2008
2
0
0
13
15


2009
0
0
0
5
5


Total
6
0
5
25
36


Dumfries and Galloway
2004
0
0
0
1
1


2005
0
0
2
0
2


2006
1
0
0
1
2


2007
0
2
1
4
7


2008
0
0
2
6
8


2009
0
0
0
4
4


Total
1
2
5
16
24


Fife
2003
0
0
0
4
4


2004
0
0
0
4
4


2005
0
2
1
2
5


2006
1
1
4
5
11


2007
3
2
1
9
15


2008
6
2
1
9
18


2009
1
0
0
12
13


Total
11
7
7
45
70


Forth Valley
2003
0
0
0
1
1


2004
1
0
0
1
2


2005
1
1
0
1
3


2006
1
5
2
2
10


2007
4
2
4
3
13


2008
5
2
0
7
14


2009
3
2
2
9
16


Total
15
12
8
24
59


Grampian
2003
0
0
0
5
5


2004
1
0
0
11
12


2005
2
1
3
6
12


2006
2
6
3
7
18


2007
8
2
3
9
22


2008
1
0
0
13
14


2009
4
0
1
12
17


Total
18
9
10
63
100


Greater Glasgow and Clyde/Argyll and Clyde
2003
0
0
0
1
1


2004
0
0
0
17
17


2005
2
2
8
9
21


2006
15
9
18
21
63


2007
32
11
7
31
81


2008
18
2
7
43
70


2009
13
1
3
40
57


Total
80
25
43
162
310


Highland
2003
0
0
0
1
1


2004
0
0
0
3
3


2005
0
0
4
1
5


2006
2
3
6
4
15


2007
1
3
2
5
11


2008
4
3
1
13
21


2009
0
0
0
16
16


Total
7
9
13
43
72


Lanarkshire
2004
0
0
0
3
3


2005
0
3
6
6
15


2006
8
2
1
4
15


2007
3
4
3
9
19


2008
7
1
0
8
16


2009
3
1
0
8
12


Total
21
11
10
38
80


Lothian
2003
0
0
0
10
10


2004
1
0
0
12
13


2005
8
9
5
8
30


2006
7
6
12
10
35


2007
14
8
7
22
51


2008
8
3
3
37
51


2009
3
0
4
36
43


Total
41
26
31
135
233


Orkney
2005
0
0
1
0
1


2006
1
0
1
0
2


2007
0
0
0
1
1


2008
0
0
0
3
3


Total
1
0
2
4
7


Shetland
2005
0
0
2
0
2


2006
0
2
0
0
2


2007
0
0
0
1
1


2008
0
0
1
0
1


2009
2
0
0
1
3


Total
2
2
3
2
9


Tayside
2003
0
0
0
1
1


2004
1
0
0
2
3


2005
3
2
4
8
17


2006
3
5
7
13
28


2007
14
5
2
15
36


2008
9
4
6
23
42


2009
3
0
2
23
28


Total
33
16
21
85
155


Western Isles
2005
1
0
0
1
2


2006
0
1
1
1
3


2007
1
3
0
0
4


2008
2
1
0
1
4


2009
0
0
0
2
2


Total
4
5
1
5
15

National Health Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors satisfaction levels among patients who have made a complaint against the NHS and whether it will publish the results of any statistical analysis of satisfaction levels undertaken in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is no statistical analysis held centrally on patient satisfaction with regard to NHS complaints. Better Together , the Scottish Government’s Patient Experience Programme, has been introduced to support NHS boards, frontline staff and patients in driving forward service improvement. The Programme is developing ways to collect experiences of healthcare from people and can be accessed at:

  http://www.bettertogetherscotland.com/bettertogetherscotland/CCC_FirstPage.jsp.

  Research around the barriers to making an NHS complaint, commissioned by the Scottish Health Council and recently completed, has identified that one of the main reasons that people complain is for the benefit of future patients. Complaints should be welcomed by NHS Scotland as a valuable tool in reviewing and improving the care and services it provides. My officials are now considering how best to implement the research recommendations, including those around patient information and feedback.

  Whether a complaint is resolved locally or has been before the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), the complainant receives an apology from the relevant NHS service provider for any shortcomings and is advised of the steps that are being taken to address the concerns that have been raised.

Prison Service

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its long-term plans are for the future of HMP Dumfries.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are no plans for any significant change at HMP Dumfries.

  Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans for capital investment in HMP Dumfries and, if so, what expenditure.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  In the current financial year, an upgrade of the perimeter security and CCTV system was completed, at a total cost of £549,670. In addition, during 2009-10, funding was provided for capital items at HMP Dumfries which totalled £82,622.

  Additional capital investment will be made as required and as funding permits.

Regeneration

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the projects that have been successful in the second round of funding from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Alex Neil: The outcome of the second round of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund was announced on Friday 13 November.

Schools

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent evaluation of the campus cop scheme will be published.

Kenny MacAskill: The independent evaluation of the campus cop scheme in Scotland will be published early in the new year.

Unemployment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that community planning partnerships are contributing to tackling unemployment.

Fiona Hyslop: We are currently considering what the reports from local authorities on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements demonstrate about the contribution that community planning partnerships are making towards tackling unemployment.

Vaccinations

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs are expected to start vaccinating priority patients against influenza A (H1N1) before their Directed Enhanced Services contract is in place.

Nicola Sturgeon: No. The Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services – Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) Vaccination Scheme) (Scotland) Directions 2009 came into force on Thursday 29 October 2009. Under these directions, health boards must offer primary medical services contractors the opportunity to participate in the scheme, and any such arrangement must be contractual. The directions set out timescales for this.

  However, if any patients in the priority groups were vaccinated before these contractual arrangements with health boards were in place, then subject to certain conditions, contractors would be paid for these vaccinations.

  Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people most at risk in the Lothians region received a flu vaccination in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: In the NHS Lothian area seasonal flu vaccine uptake for those under the age of 65, in an at risk group reached 48.2% for the 2008-09 flu season. Uptake rates for those aged 65 and over in NHS Lothian area reached 78.8% over the same period.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the priority categories for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme to include nought to four-year-olds.

Nicola Sturgeon: The decision about who should be included in the priority groups was taken on the basis of advice from independent experts, who advised the Scottish Government and other UK administrations on the risk groups who should be offered vaccination first and foremost in order to reduce the rate or possibility of serious illness.

  Ministers in all four nations accepted this advice and preparations continue to be made to extend the programme beyond these initial priority groups. This will be considered further based upon independent scientific advice.

  Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination will be available for people with an egg allergy.

Nicola Sturgeon: People in the at risk priority groups with confirmed severe allergies to egg products should receive the Celvapan vaccine. This vaccine will be primarily reserved for those confirmed cases. The first batch of Celvapan vaccine has now arrived in Scotland and GP Practices will begin to receive initial supplies from 13 November.

  Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was decided to use GP surgeries to distribute the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Nicola Sturgeon: Agreement was reached with the General Practitioners Committee on 15 September that GP practices would deliver vaccination to those in the initial priority groups.